E. M. Cioran

A civilization is destroyed only when its gods are destroyed.

A civilization is destroyed only when its gods are destroyed.

Man must vanquish himself, must do himself violence, in order to perform the slightest action untainted by evil.

Man must vanquish himself, must do himself violence, in order to perform the slightest action untainted by evil.

Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.

Progress is the injustice each generation commits with regard to its predecessors.

Anyone can escape into sleep, we are all geniuses when we dream, the butcher's the poet's equal there.

Anyone can escape into sleep, we are all geniuses when we dream, the butcher's the poet's equal there.

Criticism is a misconception: we must read not to understand others but to understand ourselves.

Criticism is a misconception: we must read not to understand others but to understand ourselves.